When Is a Park More Than a Park? Rethinking the Role of Parks as “Shared Space” in Post-Conflict Belfast

Ian Mell (), John Sturzaker, Alice Correia, Mary Gearey, Neale Blair, Luciana Lang and Fearghus O’Sullivan
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Ian Mell: Department of Planning & Environmental Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
John Sturzaker: Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, University of Hertfordshire, Hartfield AL10 9AB, UK
Alice Correia: Independent Researcher, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Mary Gearey: School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4AT, UK
Neale Blair: School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Ulster, Belfast BT15 1ED, UK
Luciana Lang: School of Arts, Language and Culture, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Fearghus O’Sullivan: Department of Planning & Environmental Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: With the signing of the Belfast Agreement, Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) entered a new phase of urban development. Moving away from notions of division, Belfast City Council envisaged an inclusive and accessible city. Over a 20-year period, there have been significant changes in Belfast’s physical, socio-cultural, and political structure, reframing the city as a post-conflict space. However, there has been limited analysis of the role of parks in this process. This paper examines perceptions of parks, asking whether the promotion of a “shared spaces” policy aligns with local use. Through a mixed-methods approach, park users were surveyed to reflect on the meanings of parks in the city. We argue that although residual interpretations associated with historical socio-cultural divisions remain, parks are predominately multi-community amenities. The analysis illustrates that although destination parks attract greater patronage, there is visible clustering around ‘anchor’ sites at the local scale, especially in neighbourhoods with significant Catholic or Protestant identities.

Keywords: parks; public space; community planning; behaviour; perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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